Argentine soccer gangs' growing clout

Argentine authorities are struggling to break the increasing influence of "Barras Bravas" hooligans.

14 Dec 2011 10:47 GMT

Argentine hooligans, known as Barras Bravas, have been blamed for many deaths and injuries in a succession of incidents of football-related violence in recent years.

At least 14 people have been killed and hundreds of others injured in fights between rival fan groups in just the last year and a half.

And with rival gangs at major clubs such as Boca Juniors fighting among themselves for control over activities such as control of the sale of merchandise outside stadiums, ticket sales and even alleged cuts of player transfer fees, authorities are struggling to break the power of the gangs.